Food Files

Advance registration or reservations are recommended for most events. Prices exclude tax and gratuity unless otherwise noted. THE GRAPEVINE March 12 Washington Wine Month is upon us again, and Mark Newton refuses to let such a momentous occasion go by unnoticed. In celebration, the DiStefano Winery owner is hosting a candlelit dinner intended to showcase single-vineyard merlots and cabs from around the state. $85. 7 p.m. 12280 Woodinville Dr. N.E., 425-487-1648. WOODINVILLE Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery trots out the two newest additions to the Family: a cabernet sauvignon and a mostly-merlot he likes to call "Clos de Betz." Free. 3–6 p.m. Pike & Western Wine Shop, 1934 Pike Place, 206-441-1307. PIKE PLACE MARKET Isn't love wonderful? It's especially nice when a viticulturist falls for a vintner and, instead of making beautiful music together, they produce beautiful wine. Lisa Dupar Catering welcomes lovebirds Clay Mackey and Kay Simon for a wine dinner featuring chardonnay, merlot, et al., from Chinook Wines and four courses of delectable fare. $55. 6:30–8:30 p.m. 17825 N.E. 65th St., 425-881-3250. REDMOND March 13 Can't wait for Taste of Washington? Get a sneak preview at Red Apple Wine Bar, where a rep from Silverlake will be uncorking the winery's wares before they make their big appearance at the Taste in April. Free. 3–6 p.m. 3601 Fremont Ave. N., 206-633-FOOD. FREMONT March 14 McCrea Cellars namesake Doug McCrea will be on hand for this five-course wine dinner prepared by chef Chris Zarkades and sommelier Arnie Millan. McCrea is renowned as a pioneer in Washington State Rhone varietals, and his syrah is ranked among the 10 best in the country by Wine & Spirits magazine. $75. 7 p.m. 401 Lenora St., 206-777-1990. DOWNTOWN March 18 The Antinori Winery boasts a winemaking tradition that goes back 26 generations. As far as we can tell, that means they may well have made the wine that Caesar drank just before his unfortunate collision with Brutus' dagger. Regardless, Il Fornaio is hosting the sacrosanct winery for a very special tasting. $10. 5:30–7:30 p.m. 600 Pine St. (Pacific Place), 206-264-0994. DOWNTOWN SEATTLE March 19 Another in a recent rash of Provence-themed wine events, the Northwest Enological Society's "Evening in Provence" promises wine tasting, food, and entertainment—in the festive tradition of Peter Mayle. $75 for members, $95 for nonmembers. 6:30–10 p.m. Hollywood Schoolhouse, 14810 N.E. 145th St., 253-859-5112. WOODINVILLE March 20 Quiet Phinney Ridge lets its figurative hair down at a neighborhood wine tasting scheduled to include 20 Washington wines, "light hors d'oeuvres," a silent auction, and live music. $20 advance, $25 at the door. 7:30–9:30 p.m. Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., 206-783-2244. PHINNEY RIDGE Collins Pub Huckleberry champagne (!), chardonnay, merlot, and syrah are on the vino menu for tonight's four-course prix-fixe dinner featuring Townshend wines. The chow forecast includes an oyster-and-melon granita and, in the entrée role, beef Wellington. $45. 6–9 p.m. 526 Second Ave., 206-623-1016. PIONEER SQUARE IN THE CUP March 19–20 The Hops on Equinox festival spotlights spring brews and ciders, but it also provides beer-drinking neophytes with a crash course in "pub culture," including tasty treats from local brewpubs. $18 advance, $20 at the door. 5–10 p.m. Fri., March 19; 1–10 p.m. Sat., March 20. Fisher Pavilion (Seattle Center), 206-633-0422. SEATTLE CENTER BACK TO SCHOOL March 10 Christina Orchid, of Christina's on Orcas Island, sets out for the mainland to teach a lucky few landlubbers the secrets of her acclaimed getaway restaurant. Let this skilled chef entice you with her clams, garlic-stuffed mussels, champagne oysters, and roasted halibut at a Sur La Table class. $50. 10 a.m. 90 Central Way, 425-827-1311. KIRKLAND Grace's Kitchen may have a less-than-spicy name, but its cooking classes are nothing if not piquant. Learn a little something about the nexus of "heat and sweet" as you make chicken and tomatillo enchiladas and shrimp adobo. $60. 6–8 p.m. 2821C N.W. Market St., 206-297-3663. BALLARD March 13 As you may already know, English teatime involves more than just Earl Grey and lemon. The afternoon snack/beverage/gossip hour includes crustless sandwiches (preferably of the cucumber variety) and perhaps a nice chicken salad, not to mention various and sundry tarts (pastries, not fallen women). Learn how to plan and execute the ultimate teatime at Rain City Cooking School. $50. 11 a.m. 1883 145th Pl. S.E., 425-644-4285. BELLEVUE March 16 Seastar sommelier Erik Leidholm has been garnering lots of press lately. Along with blurbs in both Gourmet and Sunset magazines, his work at Seastar helped put that restaurant in Food & Wine's "Best Wine Lists in America" issue last year. His class on "the subtle nuances of Burgundy" is the first of three in a series, the second and third of which are: "Australian Wine: Wine From the Great Land Down Under" and "Cabernet Franc: Cabernet Sauvignon's Much Overlooked Parent," respectively. $60 for one class; $160 for all three. 6:30 p.m. Seastar, 205 108th Ave. N.E., 425-456-0010. BELLEVUE Any fool can press grapes, but only a savvy vintner knows the chemical composition of his wines. South Seattle Community College is offering a one-night course in chemical analysis for winemakers; class consists of a lecture and various hands-on demos (all essential materials will be provided). All you have to do is bring the wine you want analyzed. $85. 6:15–9:15 p.m. SSCC, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., 206-764-5300. WEST SEATTLE Too busy to cook? Hmmm. We've heard that one before, and so has Betsy Rogers, who'll teach you how to turn one free evening into chipotle chicken burritos, butternut squash risotto, paella, and other satisfying family-style meals at an Everyday Eats class. $50. 6:30 p.m. 17171 Bothell Way N.E., 206-417-5732. LAKE FOREST PARK March 17 Just to clarify: Soufflés are not wussy. Delicate, yes; refined, most certainly. Unmanly? Never! Earth & Ocean pastry chef Sue McCown will teach all comers how to concoct the perfect soufflé (much as Audrey Hepburn learned to do in Sabrina) at Sur La Table. $50. 10 a.m. 90 Central Way, 425-827-1311. KIRKLAND March 18–19 Join PBS cooking-show host Joanne Weir at two Sur La Table classes exploring "the ethnically diverse and vibrant urban culinary landscape." The March 18 class is a demo-only event with a menu that includes dried plum, fennel, and manchego salad with prosciutto; the second class is a hands-on workshop featuring braised chicken with green garlic. $65 for the demo, 6:30 p.m. Thurs., March 18. $95 for the hands-on class, 10 a.m. Fri. March 19. 90 Central Way, 425-827-1311. KIRKLAND food@seattleweekly.com